Key points
- Betting on sports is legal in Nigeria for adults aged 18 and over, and bookmakers operate under gaming licences.
- In November 2024 the Supreme Court struck down the National Lottery Act 2005 as it applied to the states.
- Betting companies are licensed state by state; the remit of the NLRC is now effectively limited to the Federal Capital Territory.
- An offshore licence is issued outside Nigeria and is not regulation by a Nigerian state authority.
Who regulates betting in Nigeria changed in November 2024, and the answer now starts with the states. What follows sets out what the Supreme Court decided, who issues gaming licences as a result, and what a punter should look for on a betting site. It describes the position in general terms and is not legal advice.
What the Supreme Court decided in 2024
In November 2024 the Supreme Court struck down the National Lottery Act 2005 as it applied to the states, holding that lotteries and gaming are matters for state governments. That one decision moved the weight of regulation from a single federal body to the states.
Who issues licences now
| Where | Regulator |
|---|---|
| In a state | That state’s own regulator, such as the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority |
| In the Federal Capital Territory | The National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) |
| International sites | A regulator outside Nigeria; an offshore licence is not Nigerian regulation |
Swipe sideways to see every column.
In practice, betting companies in Nigeria are licensed state by state, and the remit of the NLRC is now effectively limited to the Federal Capital Territory. The rules are still settling, so the details of who needs which licence, and where, may change.
Where offshore licences fit
International sites, including the crypto sites, work under licences issued outside Nigeria. An offshore licence is a real licence, but it is not regulation by a Nigerian state authority: the rules are the issuing regulator’s, and a complaint goes there.
What this means when you check a site
Betting on sports is legal in Nigeria for adults aged 18 and over, and bookmakers operate under gaming licences. For a punter, the practical consequence of the ruling is that there is no single national list to consult. The check starts on the site itself.
- Look in the footer for the regulator the site names and its licence number.
- Go to that regulator’s own website and look for the company there.
- If the site names an offshore regulator, treat it as an international site and decide whether that is acceptable to you.
- If it names no licence at all, do not deposit.
Who regulates betting in Nigeria is, since 2024, mostly a question of which state. The licensed list explains the check in more detail, and the licence each bookmaker names is shown in the table of Nigeria betting sites. Whatever a table says, the footer of the site you choose is the thing to read. You must be 18 or over, and you can expect to be asked for ID before a withdrawal.
Next steps
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Reviews
Paripesa reviewBetbook score: 8.7
Mostbet reviewBetbook score: 8.2
22Bet reviewBetbook score: 8.4
Betting is for adults aged 18 and over
Bet only what you can afford to lose, and set a deposit limit before your first bet. If betting stops being fun, stop.
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